Fahrenheit at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This inverted vertical loop “lift” coaster starts off swooping riders up 121 feet above the ground only to plunge them right back down in a gut-wrenching, 97-degree negative drop—the steepest in the U.S. At the 121-foot crest, the upcoming drop is at such a steep incline that the only thing riders in the stadium-seating trains see is, well, nothing. No track at all. Once you survive that first drop, there’s still more to come: a 107-foot inverted loop, an inverted corkscrew roll, cobra element, airborne inverted S-roll, another inverted corkscrew, a little airtime hill (stomach floating), a high-speed banked curve, another hill, and then a high-speed banked curve to end it. All this action takes place in about 85 seconds—less time than it takes to polish off a Hershey bar. ( source )

Colossus in Thorpe Park located in Chertsey, Surrey, U.K. is a roller coaster built in 2002. It holds the record for number of inversions: 10. It flips riders over and over and over again in maneuvers called the double corkscrew, the cobra roll, and the quadruple heart-line roll. ( source )  Last week I saw the following clip of one of my faves, Ellen, riding a coaster so here's a bonus clip of coaster riding for you today. 

Expedition GeForce at Holiday Park Haßloch in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. GeForce is not only one of the largest coasters in Europe, it’s always one of the most complete and satisfying because it’s long enough and not gimmicky. But it’s also harrowing, reaching 4.5 G, a height of 203 feet, and speeds exceeding 74 mph. And there are seven coveted moments of weightlessness when your stomach just floats…and floats again. ( source )

Maverick at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. I would be remiss if I didn't include a coaster from Cedar Point. This amusement park is a family favorite. We've been going there since I was a wee one. I actually haven't been in years - I'm not a fan of amusement parks - but many members of my family still go. Maverick, (built in 2007) and most expensive ($21 million), is not one of the park’s highest-tallest-fastest record-holders, but it’s one of its best. It’s plenty fast—at 70 mph—and features eight airtime-filled hills and countless twists and turns. It’s just a more complete ride, and during the longish 2.5-minute trip, there’s even an unusual surprise…which would be spoiled if we told you beforehand. ( source ) Me and my family at Cedar Point August 1980

Eejanaika at Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida, Japan. The name translates roughly to “hey, what the hell,” which is what you will hear others shouting in Japanese when you’re on this ride. Only the second “4-D” coaster in the world (X2 is the other), this has the same 360-degree turns and insane style of head-over-heels spinning on the winglike cars as X2. But there are plenty of differences; for one, this track is a little longer and the ride is far taller—at 250 feet, it’s the seventh-highest roller coaster in the world. And from the top, riders have a spectacular, if brief, view of nearby Mount Fuji. ( source )  Now experience it from a riders point of view.